A period in the history of Wales from 1267 to 1542
This article is about the feudal polity that controlled part of Wales between 1216 and 1542. For the country, see Wales. For the position, see prince of Wales.
Principality of Wales
Tywysogaeth Cymru(Welsh)
1216–1283: Welsh rule (native) 1283–1542: English crown rule
Banner of arms of the House of Aberffraw
Arms of Gwynedd (c. 1240–1282)
Arms of the Prince of Wales under the English crown (1399–1509)
Wales after the Treaty of Montgomery of 1267:
Gwynedd, Llywelyn ap Gruffudd's principality
Territories conquered by Llywelyn ap Gruffudd
Territories of Llywelyn's vassals
Lordships of the Marcher barons
Lordships of the King of England
Kingdom of England
Status
Principality and Client state of England (1283–1294, 1295–1400, 1415–1542)
Common languages
Middle Welsh
Middle English
Anglo Norman language
Religion
Christianity
Demonym(s)
Welsh, Cymreig
Government
Feudal Monarchy
Prince
• 1216–1283
Llywelyn the Great and descendants
• 1301–1542
Edward of Caernarvon and subsequent heirs to the English throne
Historical era
Middle Ages
• Council of Aberdyfi
1216
• Treaty of Worcester
1218
• Treaty of Montgomery
1267
• Treaty of Aberconwy
1277
• Statute of Rhuddlan
3 March 1284
• Welsh Revolt
1294–1295
• Glyndŵr Rising
1400-1415
• Laws in Wales Acts
1535–1542
Currency
penny (ceiniog)
ISO 3166 code
GB-WLS
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Kingdom of Gwynedd
Deheubarth
Kingdom of England
Today part of
United Kingdom
∟Wales
∟England
The Principality of Wales (Welsh: Tywysogaeth Cymru) was originally the territory of the native Welsh princes of the House of Aberffraw from 1216 to 1283, encompassing two-thirds of modern Wales during its height of 1267–1277. Following the conquest of Wales by Edward I of England of 1277 to 1283, those parts of Wales retained under the direct control of the English crown, principally in the north and west of the country, were re-constituted as a new Principality of Wales and ruled either by the monarch or the monarch's heir though not formally incorporated into the Kingdom of England. This was ultimately accomplished with the Laws in Wales Acts 1535–1542 when the Principality ceased to exist as a separate entity.
The Principality was formally founded in 1216 by native Welshman and King of Gwynedd, Llywelyn the Great who gathered other leaders of pura Wallia at the Council of Aberdyfi. The agreement was later recognised by the 1218 Treaty of Worcester between Llywelyn the Great of Wales and Henry III of England.[1][2][3] The treaty gave substance to the political reality of 13th-century Wales and England, and the relationship of the former with the Angevin Empire. The principality retained a great degree of autonomy, characterized by a separate legal jurisprudence based on the well-established laws of Cyfraith Hywel, and by the increasingly sophisticated court of the House of Aberffraw. Although it owed fealty to the Angevin king of England, the principality was de facto independent, with a similar status in the empire to the Kingdom of Scotland.[4][5] Its existence has been seen as proof that all the elements necessary for the growth of Welsh statehood were in place.[4]
The period of de facto independence ended with Edward I's conquest of the principality between 1277 and 1283. Under the Statute of Rhuddlan, the principality lost its independence and became effectively an annexed territory of the English crown. From 1301, the crown's lands in north and west Wales formed part of the appanage of England's heir apparent, with the title "Prince of Wales". On accession of the prince to the English throne, the lands and title became merged with the Crown again. On two occasions Welsh claimants to the title rose up in rebellion during this period, although neither ultimately succeeded.
Since the Laws in Wales Acts 1535–1542, which formally incorporated all of Wales within the Kingdom of England, there has been no geographical or constitutional basis for describing any of the territory of Wales as a principality, although the term has occasionally been used in an informal sense to describe the country, and in relation to the honorary title of Prince of Wales.
^Davies 1994, p. 138.
^Lloyd 1994, p. 199.
^"Llywelyn ab Iorwerth". Wales History. BBC Wales. Retrieved 15 September 2011.
^ abCite error: The named reference statehood was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Bowen 1908, pp. xxv–xxvi.
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